Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas introduced a Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board motion Thursday calling for Metro to create a fund for business losses caused by construction of the Crenshaw/LAX light rail line, and for the agency to devise plans for safety, local worker hiring and streetscape improvements along the route.

“The Crenshaw/LAX line project is moving fast ahead. As it is being built we must also make sure the community doesn’t pay too high a price for its long-overdue rail service,” Ridley-Thomas said.

“The rail line is meant to cut traffic and improve safety, so I want Metro to come up with solid plans to make sure that happens. The line should also be built with workers from the community, and businesses disrupted by the construction need to be compensated,” he said.

Ridley-Thomas’ motion to create a “Community Benefits Package,” introduced at Thursday’s board meeting, will be placed on the agenda of the board’s August 4th meeting.

•Safety along the street-level segment of the line on Crenshaw Boulevard between 48th Street and 59th Street.

•Traffic mitigation on the same segment to reduce congestion from the current “F” rating to at least a “C” grade.

•A Local Worker Hiring Program to assure at least 30% of workers are from the local area and 10% are disadvantaged workers, as well as a program to grant 30% of contracting to small business enterprises.

•A business mitigation fund to assist local businesses impacted by the construction.

•A sidewalk, streetscape and local business improvement plan on Crenshaw Boulevard from Vernon Avenue to Stocker Street to enhance the corridor connecting Leimert Park to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Transit Station.

In May, the Metro board rejected a Ridley-Thomas proposal to put the rail line underground in the Park Mesa Heights community, between 48th Street and 59th Street along Crenshaw Boulevard.

The board also voted then to approve a Leimert Park Village station, but did not authorize money to pay for the addition, leaving its future in question.

Ridley-Thomas said he is working to ensure the Leimert Park Village station gets built. Meanwhile, his motion seeks to maximize the benefits of the rail project to the community.

“As we continue to press for a rail station in Leimert Park Village, the cultural center of African American Los Angeles, we must also make sure construction of the project promotes the economic growth that is the foundation of that rich cultural life,” Ridley-Thomas said.

“When the Leimert Park Village station is built, it must be surrounded by a thriving community of small businesses and safe and secure communities. With proper planning, Metro can ensure the Crenshaw/LAX light rail project is a win-win for all,” he said.

Ridley-Thomas noted the Crenshaw/LAX rail project is now on track for completion in 2016. The project had earlier been designated as a bus-way with a 2029 completion date. The 8.5 mile line will run from Exposition Boulevard and Crenshaw Boulevard to Los Angeles International Airport.

Have you dreamed of your child attending an award winning, accredited high school with rigorous college prep and career development programs? You do not have to look far.

With doctors, lawyers, scientists, businesspersons, entertainers and athletes, the school has one of the most impressive alumni networks in the city, the nation and the world. The seniors who graduated in June 2010 are now moving into dorms at Stanford, MIT, Yale, Dartmouth, UC Berkeley, Spellman, UCLA, Columbia and Morehouse. The list of college acceptances includes all of the schools in the California State and University of California systems as well as the most prestigious private and public universities across the country.

The world-renowned choir has performed before the Queen of England and the President of France. Competing against schools throughout L.A., the high school's students won the regional competition for urban planning sponsored by the Urban Land Institute. A cooking project in a business entrepreneur class turned into a thriving, for-profit enterprise for students with a food product now being sold in the local Starbucks. For two years, the school has had Gates Millennium Scholars--one of the most coveted scholarship programs in the world. And on top of all the academic and cultural achievements, the undefeated football team won the 2010 City Championship.

Yes! Crenshaw High School--one of the best-kept secrets in our community! Crenshaw High School boasts excellence on the field and in the classrooms. The costs for students attending colleges locally and across the country were offset by more than $9 million in scholarships offered in acknowledgment of dedicated work by students and faculty. Other seniors have chosen to enter the military service for their country and others have promising jobs lined up.

Crenshaw High School is a comprehensive high school open to ALL students in our community. Under the leadership of award-winning Principal Carrie Harris Allen, Crenshaw High School is giving EVERY child, EVERY chance, EVERY day.

In June 2010, Crenshaw High School was granted a full two-year accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)--recognition of undeniable progress at Crenshaw with a 27% increase in graduation rates, the implementation of Small Learning Communities across all grades and a 19% increase in CAHSEE first-time pass rates. Extending congratulations to Crenshaw, LAUSD Superintendent Ray Cortines commented that the accreditation term was "a major milestone for the Crenshaw High School community that should be marked as what can be accomplished when stakeholders are united around a common goal and work toward improving academic outcomes for all students."

Crenshaw High School has been under a unique oversight structure since 2008, governed by the Greater Crenshaw Educational Partnership (GCEP) within the iDesign Division of LAUSD. The structure allows for charter-like flexibility and localized decision making over curriculum and budget. GCEP, a nonprofit 501(c)(3), harnesses the combined resources of the Los Angeles Urban League, the University of Southern California (USC) and the Tom & Ethel Bradley Foundation into the school, working diligently with Principal Allen, the students, committed teachers, staff, and parents for constructive change.

"It is important that our South Los Angeles community embraces the jewel we have once again in Crenshaw High School," said Blair H. Taylor, President and CEO of the League. "There is no need to send children outside of the community for a top notch, quality high school education. Crenshaw offers excellent opportunities in education, arts and culture, sports programs and viable career paths which are designed to meet the needs of each and every student beginning in the 9th grade."

For information on how to register your child at Crenshaw High School, contact (323) 290-7803 and visit www.crenshawhs.org.

With a large earthquake on the possible horizon, Californians must prepare for the worst.

By Kaylee DavisSentinel Intern

Recent earthquakes have many Californians fearful a 'big one' is nearing. Brandon Gray, a Los Angeles native, speaks of being shaken up by the tremors. "I feel that it's a warning to a big earthquake that is soon to come," he shares.

Firefighter-Paramedic Jayson Johnson explains that California is historically hit by a large scale earthquake every 150 years, and the latest occurred in 1957. "Essentially we are overdue...like eleven months pregnant," Johnson warns. Luckily California, a modernized region, will not experience devastation at the levels of Haiti and other such nations. Johnson reassures, "Our buildings are built stronger."

Yet, Californians must realize earthquake awareness is imperative. Along with numerous Angelinos, Gray's memory of earthquake safety is hazy at best. Jennifer Johnson of L.A. admits she no longer owns an earthquake kit. Both were last educated on earthquake preparation several years ago in elementary school.

Johnson, who specializes in disaster preparedness education, advises against this and encourages Angelinos and all Californians to brush-up on their earthquake knowledge and start planning. He says, "We can't prevent, but we can prepare." In the event of an earthquake, the paramedics and firefighters will not have the manpower to save all four million Los Angeles residents. "It's going to be people's ability to help themselves," Johnson informs.

Johnson likens disaster training to an old African proverb, "I can give you a fish and feed you for a day, or I can teach you to fish and feed you for a lifetime;" he continues, "disaster preparedness is teaching people how to fish." Johnson promotes taking baby steps towards readying your household.

Develop an earthquake emergency plan for your family that includes a meeting place in case of separation. Educate your children, and focus on making them feel safe and secure. "Teach them age appropriately," Johnson articulates. He believes every family member can be an asset during an earthquake.

Prepare your house for an earthquake; secure overhead objects or take them down all together. Be sure to put together an earthquake kit which includes water, food, a pair of walking shoes, flash lights, batteries, first aid, and a whistle. Johnson also keeps a crowbar, hammer, and battery-operated radio in his bedroom. In addition, preparation can include scanning all important documents to an external hard drive or emailing them to yourself.

Before an earthquake, know the location of your main water serve pipe and the main electrical panel of your home. All responsible household members should know how to shut off the gas meter.

During an earthquake, instead of running towards a doorway which can be dangerous, simply "duck, cover, and hold on." Avoid glass, and wait until the shaking subsides to assess the damage.

For additional information, visit Johnson's blog site on disaster preparedness- www.yourhouseinorder.com. Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) classes are offered free of charge to educate citizens on disaster awareness. Visit www.cert-la.com or email lafd@lafd.lacity.org. Take note of Johnson's motto, "Hope for the best; prepare for the worst," and your family will have the ability to tackle an earthquake with expertise.

Summer activities are a favorite among young children, from playing on swings to swimming in cool water. But spending more time outside near garages, pools, lakes, and playground equipment can increase a child's risk of injury.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately 2.5 million children are injured around their homes every year. Statistics in the African American community are even more dramatic. A 2010 study commissioned by USA Swimming found that nearly 70% of African American children have little or no swimming skills, compared to 40% of white children. This condition puts them at greater risk of drowning. To help parents and caregivers protect kids from potential dangers and reduce accidents this summer, First 5 California offers the following tips on childproofing outdoor areas.

By the Water

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that drowning is the second leading cause of death for children. Studies also indicate that African American children have a greater risk of drowning because parental fear often discourages black children from learning to swim, even if the swim lessons are free. Be water wise around pools, lakes, ponds, and the ocean!

- Reinforce the importance of learning to swim to your children as a life-saving skill.

- Don't rely on flotation devices like life vests or floating baby seats to keep kids safe, as these can shift position, lose air, or slip out from under a child.

- Install a fence or wall that's at least four feet high around pools with a self-latching gate that kids can't reach. Keep the pool gate closed at all times.

On the Playground

Before letting your child climb on play equipment in your backyard or a public playground, scan the area for potential safety hazards.

- Check the equipment for rusted parts and loose splinters that can pinch a child's skin.

- Look under swings, slides, and play structures. Ideally, there should be wood chips, sand or rubber mats to help break a child's fall.

- Touch the equipment to make sure it's not too hot to play on.

Around the Garage

Garages and carports are often used to store lawn chemicals, gardening tools, and other items that are dangerous for young children.

- Keep pesticides, fertilizer, lighter fluid, and sharp objects like nails and screws in locked cabinets or high above the reach of curious little hands.

- When mowing the lawn, keep kids inside the house or at a safe distance so that they don't get hurt by flying objects such as sticks or rocks. Never let children push a lawn mower with you.

Remember to always supervise children when they are playing outdoors. Summer provides great opportunities for kids to explore and stay active, but keep safety in mind first! For more information on outdoor safety, visit www.first5california.com/parents.

First 5 California, also known as the California Children and Families Commission, was established after voters passed Proposition 10 in November 1998, adding a 50 cents-per-pack tax on cigarettes to fund education, health, child care and other programs for expectant parents and children up to age 5. For more information, please visit first5california.com/parents.

The beaches, the nightlight, the culture and the weather are as close to utopia as one can get.

But LA is earthquake country and lately there's been a whole lot of shaking going on in the City of the Angels.

On March 16, a magnitude 4.4 earthquake rattled us at 4:04 a.m. The epicenter was near Pico Rivera but the temblor was felt throughout Los Angeles.Â

Who can forget the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that jolted us on April 4th just about the time many of us were sitting down to an Easter dinner? It struck at 3:40 p.m. Although the epicenter of this quake was in Mexicali, Mexico, it was certainly felt right here in Los Angeles making Easter dinner a little unnerving.

It seems the only time we think about earthquakes is when one happens. So needless to say we've been thinking about them a lot. And we should because geologists predict that there is a 99.7 percent chance of having a magnitude 6.7 or larger earthquake during the next 30 years. They also predict the mega quake is more likely to occur in the southern half of California.

But overall, most of us live in denial about the "big one" and we haven't done the most basic and rudimentary preparations to protect our families, homes and business. Just look at what happened in Mexico. After the earthquake, there were broken gas and water lines. Communication was disrupted. Homes and businesses were damaged. Roads were buckled, cracked and destroyed making it difficult for emergency responders to get to people who needed help.

When are we going to face the fact that it is not a matter of if a big earthquake will strike the Southland, it's just a matter of when. And when it does will you be ready?

Here are a few basics to get you started. Look at this as a preventative measure just like you take preventive measures to keep your car running or preventative measures to prevent tooth decay. The preventative measures you take in preparing for an earthquake can save your life and that of your family. Earthquakes don't injure people, falling objects and lack of preparation does.

Protect yourself when it starts shaking - Practice the following internationally recognized safety measure: Drop (to the ground before the shaking drops you), Cover (get under a sturdy desk or table), Hold On (to the desk or table until the shaking stops).

Develop a simple emergency plan - Here are the basics. Have your family agree upon an out-state relative or friend to be your family contact. During an emergency intra-state phone lines are jammed and you won't be able to call each other, but you can often get a call out of state. Use that number to check in. Next pick two places to meet for emergencies outside your home or somewhere in the neighborhood in case you can't get home.

Create an emergency kit for your home, car, workplace or school - Remember it can take at least 72 hours before emergency responders can get to you after an emergency. So make a starter kit with some of the following items: tennis shoes, change of clothes, personal hygiene items, battery powered flashlight and radio, extra batteries, universal DC adaptor/charger, nutrition/protein bars, canned foods and juices, baby formula, pet food, manual can opener, plastic utensils, work gloves, water (at least 1 gallon per person, per day), medications, eyeglasses, blankets/sleeping bags, copies of important family documents and some cash.

Learn how to shut off your utilities - during a major earthquake natural gas leaks can occur, water pipes can rupture, and arching and burning can occur in electrical items. It's important to know how to shut off all your utilities and your utility company can help you with that.

There is more that you can do, but this is a great place to start. It really is time for us to raise our readiness IQ. Our lives and that of our families depend on it. After all, we live in earthquake country, but we can make Los Angeles a readiness town. For more readiness tips on how to prepare, respond and recovery from any kind of disaster, the City of Los Angeles has a great website, it is www.readyla.org. (If you have comments about Veronica's View, email them to vsview@yahoo.com.

Organizers of a local institute that trains and professionally certifies gang and crisis interventionists today are lauding its collaboration with an accredited psychological school as a much needed step toward saving lives and implementing the privately funded program as a national training model.

"Our partnership with the Chicago School of Professional Psychology brings a multitude of expertise to our efforts to produce the most experienced intervention professionals in the nation," said Aquil Basheer, executive director and founder of the Professional Community Intervention Training Institute (PCITI).

"This partnership will definitely set the standard for this type of work."

The announcement today of the strategic partnership with the downtown Los Angeles-based Chicago School--the nation's oldest and largest graduate university focused exclusively on psychology and related behavioral sciences--follows a ceremony honoring 30 members of the PCITI's third graduating class of men and woman who have dedicated themselves to serving as peacemakers in their respective neighborhoods.

Representatives at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology are equally thrilled with the new partnership.

With the help of the PCITI, the Chicago School, which includes crisis intervention training as part of its curriculum, hopes to enhance its training of psychologists by placing its candidates--who will receive credit toward their perspective degrees--as psychology interns with the PCITI.

"As a professional school, our focus is not strictly on research and theory, but on preparing students to become outstanding practitioners, by providing direct services to help individuals and organizations thrive," said Dr. Debra Warner, a forensic psychologist and lead faculty member of the Chicago School of Professional School's Forensic Department."

"Our school prepares students with superior theoretical and classroom preparation--coupled with an unrivaled range of real-world training experiences--opportunities to build on their multicultural and global sophistication."

Basheer added that the new partnership, along with the importance of a positive working relationship with local law enforcement and emergency responding agencies, adds a new perspective to the methods use by interventionist's to save lives and prevent senseless murders in their communities.

Los Angeles Police Sergeant Curtis Woodel said he has witnessed a noticeable change over the years in the way law enforcement interacts with gang interventionists. Woodel was one of several speakers who acknowledged the latest PCITI class Friday at a ceremony held in their honor.

"When law enforcement and the community work together, great things happen," said Woodel, who serves as Gang Intervention Liaison for department.

A host of family, friends and community supporters were also on hand to celebrate the graduates, who brought the total number of PCITI-trained interventionists to 175 and increased the size of the Professional Peacekeepers Collaborative Alliance--a multicultural with a mission to save lives, restore communities, provide hope, and implement solutions.

"I am extremely proud all of the participants of this third graduating class. They've proved themselves under tremendous pressure, stayed true to the task, and accomplished their personal missions to become part of a small group of individuals who possess some of the most sought after, specialized expertise in the nation."

The fires burning in Southern California remind all residents that they should be prepared in case an emergency requires they leave their homes. The Los Angeles County Health Officer, Dr. Jonathan E. Fielding, would like all residents to include 10 Essential Items in an emergency kit.

1. Water

2. Food

3. Cash and Important Documents

4. Clothes

5. Flashlight

6. First Aid Kit

7. Medicine

8. Radio

9. Toiletries

10. Tools (for gas shut-off, etc)

These essential items will help ensure that people have access to basic essentials, such a medication or specific foods, when other resources may not be available during an emergency. It is also vital that families put together a Communications Plan, in case they are separated or at work or school when a disaster strikes. This plan should include information on how to contact each other and designate a safe place to meet.

For more information on fire, earthquake, or other disaster readiness, call 1-866-999-5228 or visit the Just Be Ready: Prepare Together webpage at www.publichealth.lacounty.gov. Bilingual Public Health staff is available Monday - Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Department of Public Health is committed to protecting and improving the health of the nearly 10 million residents of Los Angeles County. Through a variety of programs, community partnerships and services, Public Health oversees environmental health, disease control, and community and family health. Public Health comprises more than 4,000 employees and an annual budget exceeding $750 million. To learn more about Public Health and the work we do, please visit http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov or visit our YouTube channel at

How do you manage your personal health information: from a shoebox? An expandable folder? Your doctor's new Web-based software?

One of the nation's few nurse-industrial engineers thinks both individuals and health systems can manage care better if they had better technology. And she's leading an eight-year-long national effort to come up with a vision for personal health records that will go far beyond the current crop of ideas for helping people make decisions about their own health.

"We have to think bigger, and figure out how to take full advantage of the amazing new opportunities technology is providing," says Dr. Patricia Flatley Brennan, who holds professorships in both the UW-Madison School of Nursing and College of Engineering. "A truly effective system of managing health information would not just make it easy to collect and store information like blood-pressure readings, medication lists or doctors' instructions. It would be a very powerful tool to help people accomplish goals and manage chronic health problems."

Brennan is the national program director of Project HealthDesign, a program which aims to create a new generation of personal health records. Originally funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in 2006, Project HealthDesign recently received an additional $5.3 million in funding to continue to explore Brennan's vision. The award will allow the project to continue into 2012.

Brennan acknowledges that several health-information vendors are moving forward on various versions of electronic personal health records. But her vision, which derives from her role as a nurse and teacher of nurses, is both broader and more centered around the patient.

"Project HealthDesign speaks to what is unique about nursing research, which strives to help people find ways to understand and manage their own health," she says. "The tools that vendors have available now are mostly linked to a health care organization's medical record, or are disease-specific. What we seek to do is come up with tools and applications that can access all sorts of health information that work together to help people reach their health goals in a secure, integrated way."

Imagine having a tool that keeps track of your accumulated health history-allergies, vaccinations, lab results, etc., that is collected during a typical clinical encounter-plus clinical information passively gathered from you-your blood pressure or glucose level, for example. Add to that what Project HealthDesign has identified as "observations of daily living" - things that you record yourself and have unique meaning for you: moods, pain or discomfort, events during the day.

Then imagine that the tool is able to integrate all your clinical and observational information, interpret the results and provide useful feedback on which you can act.

Consider a diabetic, who tries to carefully manage her food intake, exercise, medication and all of their effects on her blood sugar, sleep habits and mood. A really useful personal health-information system would allow her to track all of those factors, give regular reports back to her with suggestions or warnings, and also alert a nurse or physician if her blood sugar was in a dangerous range.

"We all develop strategies for managing the different kinds of health information," says Brennan. "Project HealthDesign is aimed at coming up with entirely new approaches using readily available technology and centered around the patient."

During the first round of the project, researchers developed prototype tools that did much of the above. In its second round, researchers will focus on how the integrated information can be used in a clinical setting.

"By integrating what happens during a care visit with observations of daily living, caregivers and patients will have a more complete picture of how the patient manages his disease," says Brennan. "We've already made a lot of progress in identifying barriers and finding ways to keep the information secure while still giving access to those who need it. Making this happen requires a lot of creative thinking by teams of folks with very different skills. By bringing together technology and health care professionals with patient-centered design experts, we are on the way."

Dr. Brennan was recently selected to be one of five UW-Madison faculty whose research proposals will establish the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery (WID).

Her proposal for the Health Technology Design in the Living Environments Laboratory is aimed at accelerating the development of personal care diagnostic and therapeutic technology to support individuals and families in the detection, recognition and management of health problems.

"The Living Environments Laboratory research will help expand Project HealthDesign's vision of engaging people in managing their health," according to Dr. Brennan, "by developing new devices and creative technologies to better understand health in everyday living."

One focus will be to learn how individuals now access and manage health information at home, and then propose improvements that are workable in the real world. A second focus will be to find improvements in the many health-care technologies - ranging from blood-glucose measurement to meters that gauge respiratory function - that are moving into the home, where they must be adapted to different circumstances and different users.

--Source: University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics

]]>swire@lasentinel.net (Sentinel News Service)Veronica's ViewThu, 03 Sep 2009 04:00:00 +0000Riding escalators: A summer safety reminder http://lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5907:riding-escalators-a-summer-safety-reminder&catid=73&Itemid=163
http://lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5907:riding-escalators-a-summer-safety-reminder&catid=73&Itemid=163Summer means more time spent out and about. With activities ranging from swimming at the local pool to attending festivals, amusement parks and sporting events, people are visiting new places and entering new buildings. While outdoor safety may be top of mind for many this summer, indoor safety is equally important.

The Elevator and Escalator Safety Foundation and the National Elevator Industry, Inc. remind people to ride safely when using building transportation this summer. EESF and NEII together promote escalator safety rules and encourage building and equipment owners to make riders aware of them.

"Escalators are an extremely safe form of transportation," says Barbara Allen, executive director and spokesperson for EESF. "They transport more than 300 million people in North America daily. However, it's always important to follow simple safety guidelines, and adults, especially, should supervise and set a good example for their children."

Some tips for a safe ride:

When entering escalators:

- Watch the direction of the moving step and step on and off with extra care.

- Take care if you are wearing bifocals or similar eyewear.

- Hold children firmly with one arm or hold child's free hand.

- Hold small packages firmly in one hand, but always leave one hand available to hold the handrail.

- Grasp the handrail as you step onto the moving step.

- Do not go in the opposite direction of the escalator.

- Do not take wheelchairs, electric scooters, strollers, hand carts, luggage carts or similar items on the escalator.

When riding escalators:

- Keep loose clothing clear of steps and sides.

- Wear closed-toed and hard-soled shoes, and avoid wearing footwear made of soft-resin or other rubbery materials.

- Don't rest any items or parcels on the handrail or lean against the sides.

- Don't climb onto or ride the handrail.

- Do not let children sit on steps or stand too close to sides.

- If children are too small to hold handrail, or holding the handrail pulls them close to the side of the escalator, hold their hand and keep them centered on the step.

When exiting escalators:

- Don't hesitate. Step off promptly.

- Make sure to step over the comb fingers; don't let your feet slide off the end of the escalator.

- Immediately move clear of the escalator exit area; don't stop to talk or look around since other passengers may be behind you.

For more information about escalator safety, visit the NEII Web site at www.neii.org, or the EESF Web site at www.eesf.org. The EESF Web site offers online interactive safety programs for both children and adults.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

]]>swire@lasentinel.net (Sentinel News Service)Veronica's ViewThu, 18 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0000Leaders Coordinate to prepare for potential public health emergencies http://lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5998:leaders-coordinate-to-prepare-for-potential-public-health-emergencies&catid=73&Itemid=163
http://lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5998:leaders-coordinate-to-prepare-for-potential-public-health-emergencies&catid=73&Itemid=163The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health today hosted a workshop, titled "Managing a Public Health Crisis at your Doorstep," designed to educate elected officials and city managers to effectively respond to public health emergencies. More than one hundred participants attended the workshop from cities throughout the county.

"Prepare now, so you know what to do when a public health emergency strikes your city, and television cameras and reporters are at your doorstep," said Don Knabe, Chairman and Supervisor, Fourth District, Board of Supervisors Los Angeles County. "Los Angeles County is proud to serve as the emergency preparedness partner for the 88 cities and unincorporated areas that may, at any time, find themselves affected by a natural or man-made disaster. Workshops such as this one provide an opportunity for information to be shared and knowledge to be gained before an emergency happens."

The workshop covered valuable tools available to cities from Public Health such as the development of continuity of operations plans in case of a pandemic; chemical, biological, or bioterrorism incident; or the aftermath of a natural disaster that may have public health consequences. It also covered ways in which cities may develop critical partnerships now with local governments, law enforcement agencies, fire departments and emergency medical services in the event that public health services, such as medication, need to be delivered rapidly and efficiently.

"The new flu A H1N1 outbreak demonstrated the critical role that emergency response plans play in protecting the public's health and safety. These types of incidents, and others such as earthquakes or fires, occur without warning," said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Director of Public Health and Health Officer. "It is important that government leaders have a way to communicate to each other as to what their roles and responsibilities will be and what their constituents' unique needs will be during a public health emergency."

"This workshop illustrates the strong collaborative partnership of public officials to coordinate important matters involving the public health of the communities of Los Angeles," said John Fernandes, Administrator, Los Angeles County, Chief Executive Office, Office of Emergency Management.

The Just Be Ready: Prepare Together campaign, which encourages all residents to take proactive steps in preparing for any potential disaster, was also on display. Educational materials about flu prevention and building an emergency kit were available in multiple languages.

For more information on how to Just Be Ready for a potential disaster, please visit the Public Health website at: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/eprp/media/index.htm.

The Department of Public Health is committed to protecting and improving the health of the nearly 10 million residents of Los Angeles County. Through a variety of programs, community partnerships and services, Public Health oversees environmental health, disease control, and community and family health. Public Health comprises more than 4,000 employees and an annual budget exceeding $750 million. To learn more about Public Health and the work we do, please visit http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.

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]]>swire@lasentinel.net (Sentinel News Service)Veronica's ViewThu, 04 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +00008 ways to protect you and your family online http://lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6026:8-ways-to-protect-you-and-your-family-online&catid=73&Itemid=163
http://lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6026:8-ways-to-protect-you-and-your-family-online&catid=73&Itemid=163In this day and age, we all have to be careful about how we share information online. Browsing the Web is the single most popular activity on the PC -- with both the time people spend on the Web and the range of things they can do continuing to grow. With social networking sites, online shopping, and online banking becoming more common and convenient, the risk of fraud or identity theft continues to grow. This kind of activity is on the rise every year.

This doesn't mean that you can't surf safely online. Quite the contrary, you just need to follow a few simple guidelines to protect yourself and your family and create a safe and enjoyable experience. And given that June marks Internet Safety Month, it's a good time to think about how best to educate yourself and your loved ones on both the risks out there, and the simple ways to prevent them.

"Consumers really need to be proactive in the fight against cyber crime. Staying safe online is a combination of using the latest and greatest security software tools and exercising good judgment and common sense," says Michael Kaiser, executive director of the National Cyber Security Alliance.

In honor of Internet Safety Month, here are eight tips to help keep you, your family and your personal information safe online:

1. Manage your e-mail inbox. Delete unwanted and unsolicited email and don't open e-mails from people you don't know. Be cautious about unusual e-mail from people you do know. Some cyber criminals use software to make an e-mail look like it comes from an official organization (like your bank) or someone you know.

2. Always think before you click and treat links and attachments in e-mail and instant messaging with caution. Download files only from sites you know and trust and never open an attachment from someone you don't know. These can contain viruses and malware that can cause your computer to break down or is an attempt to steal personal information. If in doubt, delete it.

3. Use extreme caution when working on a public computer; Do not save your log in information, always log out of Web sites by clicking "log out" on the site (even if you are just stepping away for a few minutes), and never enter sensitive or personal information on a public computer.

4. Be sure your firewall is turned on. A firewall is an electronic fence that helps protect your PC from hackers that may try to steal sensitive information. To turn on your firewall, simply click the start button and open the control panel. Follow the security link and then click 'Turn Windows Firewall on or off.'

5. Protect personal information by using strong passwords. Make sure they are lengthy and incorporate letters, numbers and symbols.

6. When shopping online, be a savvy consumer. Conduct online research to find out what others have to say about their customer satisfaction. Be wary of companies that don't provide any contact information, including a physical mailing address and telephone number.

7. The best way to protect yourself is to keep your security software, operating system and browser up-to-date with automatic updates and practice safe online behavior.

8. New security, privacy and reliability features tools in Internet Explorer 8 can provide you with a more secure Internet experience. It's worth considering downloading it for free. Internet Explorer 8 puts you in control of your safety and privacy online and helps protect you from new threats online.

For more information, please visit www.microsoft.com/ie8 or the National Cyber Security Alliance at www.StaySafeOnline.org.

I've spent 15 years working on public policy issues that impact women and girls. At one juncture in my career I was a media and program director for a local commission for women in Los Angeles. It was the most rewarding work of my career. In fact women's commission like the one I served on are the progeny of Executive Order 1090, "Establishing the President's Commission on the Status of Women," by President John F. Kennedy in 1961.

Back then, President Kennedy appointed members from various Executive Branch offices to serve on the commission to make recommendations on policies and legislation to remove the myriad of barriers that prevented women from being treated fairly and equitably when it came to employment, education, civil rights and property rights. As you can image it was pretty cutting edge thinkingin 1961. And for some it was pure heresy. Whatever you call it, it certainly changed the trajectory of women and girls in this nation and gave us an opportunity to choose the life we wanted to live from being a mommy to a molecular scientist and everything in between.

Today there are over 200 active commissions for women in the United States who have not only carried on the work ignited by that Executive Order, but carried it to the next level in terms of successfully advocating and lobbying for protective legislation that has improved the quality of life for women and girls from health to human rights; to economic equity, family-work-life balance, and violence against women.

March has always been a special time of year for women's commissions across the United States. It is observed as Women's History Month. And President Obama placed another stake in the ground last week in marking this observance by signing Executive Order 13506, "Establishing a White House Council on Women and Girls."

"I sign this order not just as a President, but as a son, a grandson, a husband and a father," said the President during the signing ceremony. "Because growing up I saw my mother put herself through school. I also saw how she struggled to raise me and my sister on her own, worrying about how she'd pay the bills and educate herself to provide for us."

The President says that the purpose of this Council is to ensure that women and girls are treated fairly in all matters of public policy. The Council will be to make sure that the federal government takes into consideration the needs of women and girls in the policiesthat are drafted, programs that are created, and in the legislation that is supported. The objective is to establish a comprehensive approach to the federal government's policy on women and girls. Like President Kennedy, President Obama has appointed to the Council twenty four members from various Executive Branch offices to cover every possible issue affecting women and girls from health, employment and education; to housing, commerce, transportation, and veteran affairs.

Some have balked and called this action pure symbolism, pomp and exhibition; and even a boondoggle that will waste public dollars.

Not so, says the President who is fully aware that women make up 53 percent of the electorate. The value that women like his mother, his grandmother and wife have added to his life has been incalculable. He's just paying it forward.

"That's why so many of us are here today, because of the women who came before us, who were determined to see us sit in high seats," the President said. "So now it is up to us to carry that work forward, to ensure that our daughters, and grand daughters have no limits on their dreams, no obstacles to their achievements - and that they have the opportunities their mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers never dreamed of. That's the purpose of this Council. Those are the priorities of my presidency."

To this I say, "Bravo Mr. President." (If you have comments about Veronica's View, email them to vsview@yahoo.com.).

]]>lawjoomlaadmin@ronchambers.com (Veronica Hendrix)Veronica's ViewThu, 26 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0000Project Impact Enriches Lives of At-Risk Children and Familieshttp://lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7510:project-impact-enriches-lives-of-at-risk-children-and-families&catid=73&Itemid=163
http://lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7510:project-impact-enriches-lives-of-at-risk-children-and-families&catid=73&Itemid=163Just like it takes a village to a raise child, it takes a community organization like Project Impact to steer at-risk children and families in the right direction.

In 1986, Pastor Matthew Harris, executive director and founder, established Project Impact, after his church experienced a drive-by shooting between rival gang organizations.

“When I was in the drive-by shooting, everything I’ve learned was shot down,” Harris said. “I had to do a little transitioning in my ministry to reach children. I would go to funerals for youth who were killed by drive-by shootings. Family members would be furious, screaming and cussing. When you see that, there are no preparations or course that can introduce you to that experience.”

Harris says the major problem within the African American community is that churches are not trained to reach at-risk youth.So the Project Impact organization serves as a place of restoration where they work with churches around the community to assist at-risk youth and families with counseling, job training, domestic prevention programs and other services where children and broken families do not have to turned to the streets to help them with their problems.

He says most children are growing up in singled parent households accompanied by a mother or being neglected by family members. As a result, these children act out their behaviors in the streets or engage in risky behaviors.

“[There are] 35,000 youth in foster care. These kids have been caught instead of falling through the cracks,” Harris said. “[Unfortunately,] children have a higher chance of becoming at-risk when they are raised by grandparents, aunts, uncles, older sisters who don’t have the economic resources to provide for these neglected children, so they have to survive on their own.”

Other situations that can create at-risk children are a large number of kids who come from single parent households, homeless and are living with other friends. As matter of fact, most children would prefer to go to jail where shelter and food is automatically provided.

“These children have it better in jail than at home,” Harris continues. “The jails provide them with health insurance, movie privileges, three meals a day and an overall protective environment that they may not necessarily receive at home.”

Freda Jordon, director of parent education said Project Impact not only strives to keep youth in school, but exposes children to extracurricular activities so they don’t have to end up in a gang.

Jordon said Project Impact works mostly with African American and Latino youth throughout cities like Paramount, Downey, Compton and as far as San Fernando Valley who are on probation. They also work with civil services, courts, schools and parents who want to make a difference in children’s lives.

Project Impact is located on 2640 Industry Way in the city of Lynwood from 9am to 7pm on Mondays and Wednesdays, 9am to 8pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 9am to 4pm on Fridays.

Starting Oct. 19 through Nov. 19, people can donate used wireless telephones and accessories at several city offices, including City Hall, Van Nuys City Hall and Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti’s office, who announced the start of the program along with Councilwoman Jan Perry.

Some of the donated phones will go to victims in shelters so they can use them to stay in touch with families and make other needed calls.

Other phones will be refurbished and sold with the proceeds donated to benefit shelters and non-profit organizations that focus on domestic violence prevention and awareness.

“Putting an end to domestic violence is crucial to creating safer communities,” Garcetti said.

“This month every Angeleno has am opportunity to help victims of domestic violence by simply cleaning out their junk drawer and donating their old wireless phones,” he said.

Since the start of the HopeLine program in 2001, more than 4 million phones nationwide have been collected and $4 million in cash grants have been awarded to domestic violence agencies and organizations, according to a Verizon Wireless official.

The canvas lunch boxes that showed elevated levels of lead were green with a logo reading EAT FRUITS & VEGETABLES AND BE ACTIVE. Approximately 56,000 of these lunch boxes have been distributed throughout California at health fairs and other events.

“CDPH will no longer use lunch boxes until such time as we are assured that every lunch box is safe. In addition to lunch boxes, we are assessing all of our health promotion items to ensure that they are safe,” Horton said. “We are urging Californians to not use these lunch boxes and keep them away from infants and young children.”

Individuals who have these lunch boxes should return them to their school sites, if possible, or take them to their local household hazardous waste (HHW) collection facility for disposal. Local HHW facilities can be found at one of the following Web sites:

The CDPH lunch boxes that tested positive for lead were obtained through a manufacturer, TA Creations, which has factories in Canton, China.

In addition to the lunch boxes that tested positive for lead, CDPH has used other lunch boxes as nutrition education items for the Network for a Healthy California Program and the Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).

Although these lunch boxes have not shown elevated levels of lead, CDPH recommends consumers stop using and dispose of any CDPH lunch boxes and keep them away from young children as a precaution. CDPH is conducting additional testing on these lunch boxes. Approximately 300,000 lunch boxes have been distributed. All items are pictured below.

No known cases of lead poisoning have resulted from use of the lunch boxes.

For more information about lead poisoning, consumers are advised to contact their local childhood lead poisoning prevention program or public health department. Additional information and a list of local childhood lead prevention programs are available at CDPH’s Web site at http://www.cdph.ca.gov/healthinfo/discond/Pages/CLPPBChildrenAtRisk.aspx.

]]>lawjoomlaadmin@ronchambers.com (Sentinel Staff Writer)Veronica's ViewThu, 04 Oct 2007 15:12:10 +0000Back to School Safety Tipshttp://lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8696:back-to-school-safety-tips&catid=73&Itemid=163
http://lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8696:back-to-school-safety-tips&catid=73&Itemid=163With the start of each new school year, students are once again rushing to be on time, parents are getting them on their way, and drivers are going about their business, but experts say that all of them could heed some advice on safety.

“This is a critical time of the year,” noted Ray Palermo, director of public information for Teachers’ Insurance Plan. “Drivers need to re-acclimate themselves to having children on and near the road, particularly at rush hours. And, both children and their parents need to get back into their good traffic safety habits.”

He offered several tips from their Safety Information Center.

Tips for walking or biking to school:

Walk with a friend.

Pay attention to all traffic signals and crossing guards. Never cross the street against a stop light.

Cross only at crosswalks, and never run into the street from between parked cars.

Look left, right, and over your shoulder for traffic before crossing a street, and continue to check each direction.

Make sure drivers see you by making eye contact with them.

If riding a bicycle, scooter or skateboard to school, always wear a helmet and ride in the same direction as traffic. Walk your bike if crossing a street.

Tips for school bus riders:

Do not play in the street while waiting for the bus.

Line up facing the bus, not along side it.

After getting off the bus, move out of traffic.

Wait for the bus driver to signal you to cross the street. Walk away from the front of the bus so the driver can see you.

Tips for parents and drivers:

Everyone should wear a seatbelt, and children should be in age and size appropriate car seats.

Stay focused on driving and don’t be distracted by kids in the car or with other activities.

Slow down in school zones. Driving just five MPH over the speed limit increases both the risk of hitting a child and the severity of any injuries.

You never know if children crossing the street are paying attention, so remain stopped until the child has crossed not only your lane of traffic, but the adjacent lane as well.

Never pass a vehicle that has stopped at a crosswalk, as they may be waiting for someone to cross.

Do not pass a school bus when its red lights are flashing, even if it is on the other side of the street.

Use extra care in areas where children may enter the road from between parked vehicles or other things that block drivers’ view of the road. And, watch out for bicycles.

For more information on driver and passenger safety go to their Website, www.teachers.com/safety.

]]>lawjoomlaadmin@ronchambers.com (Sentinel Staff Writer)Veronica's ViewThu, 23 Aug 2007 14:07:26 +0000Child Homicides, Suicides Increasehttp://lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8889:child-homicides-suicides-increase&catid=73&Itemid=163
http://lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8889:child-homicides-suicides-increase&catid=73&Itemid=163CNS--The number of youngsters in Los Angeles County killed by a family member increased slightly from 2004 to 2005, as did adolescent suicides and infant deaths, according to child-abuse recently released reports.

The Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect released three annual reports on child abuse, child fatalities and abandoned infants.

In 2005, 33 children were killed by a parent, family member or caregiver, up from 30 in 2004, according to ICAN's report.

The leading cause of those deaths was "multiple traumas," and 79 percent of those children were less than five years old when they died, according to the report.

Children's fathers or their mother's boyfriends were responsible for most of those crimes, according to officials.

In 2005, 15 youths--11 boys and four girls--took their own lives, up from 13 in 2004. They ranged in age from 12 to 17, and the most common method of suicide was hanging, followed by self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

Signs that a child may be contemplating suicide include depression, anxiety, isolation, a lack of interest in regular activities and a drop in grades, said Michael Pines with the Los Angeles County Office of Education.

"Children that are desperate, they need to be recognized, and we need to intervene early on," Pines said. "Schools and parents need to work together to intervene early so that kids get help."

The reports also showed that 140 children died from accidents--usually traffic collisions--in 2005.

Another 109 children died of "undetermined" causes, according to ICAN, up from 84 in 2004. Twenty-five of those children were infants who were "co- sleeping" with one or more adults at the time of their deaths.

The slight increase in those statistics is not cause for immediate concern, said Deanne Tilton Durfee, the council's executive director, who noted abuse-related homicides reached an all-time high of 61 in 1991.

"Every child's death is alarming, but the increases were very small compared to the overall decline, so right now we're not alarmed by that," Durfee said.

"We are not alarmed by the slight increase by a few cases, but we are alarmed by each case," she added. "We do review each case and we don't want people to feel this is no longer a problem and they shouldn't pay attention to the hazards."

Fifty-five newborns have been turned over to county authorities since 2002 under the Safe Surrender program, according to the agency's report.

That program allows a parent or someone designated by a parent to surrender a healthy baby within 72 hours of birth to any county hospital or fire station without facing repercussions.

Mothers who surrendered their babies have ranged in age from 17 to 42. The one common element in all 55 surrenders is that the mothers hid their pregnancies, Durfee said.

The Safe Surrender program, in addition to mandatory reporting laws, may be partially responsible for the decline in abuse-related homicides, Durfee said.

The Department of Children and Family Services, which is responsible for 22,000 children, received 162,711 reports of child abuse in 2005. Also that year, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department investigated 3,308 cases of child abuse, and the Los Angeles Police Department responded to 3,222 allegations of abuse.

"Children are helpless," said Sheriff Lee Baca, the council's chairman. "Children have a need to be guarded and protected by their parents first, and then society and the agencies will be there to help."

Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley said that in his experience, drugs, especially methamphetamine, are a "common element in some of the worst cases of abuse I've ever seen."

"I think it's time we acknowledge that drug abuse is not a victimless crime. Often times, there is a direct correlation to a crime against a child, and others," Cooley said.

For more information or to report child abuse, call (800) 540-4000. For issues involving suicide or depression, the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health hotline can be reached at (800) 854-7771. To reach the Safe Surrender program, call (877) BABY-SAFE.

Online social networking is the process of communicating with friends, business colleagues, classmates and others through the Internet. An online social network creates a virtual community for others to join and feel connected to each other. The concept of social networking sites, such as MySpace, Friendster and Xanga, is incredible. It allows people from all over the world to share information and connect with one another.

Appealing as that is, the potential risks lie in the amount of personal information members--especially young members--may divulge about themselves through videos, photos or written communication.

Teen identity theft victim, Zach Friesen knows the importance of keeping personal identifying information safe at all times. Friesen's identity was stolen when he was seven years old. At age 17, he learned he was the victim of identity theft and that thieves used his name for purchases totaling $40,000.

"It is important for parents and guardians to become involved and aware of these sites and talk with their children about the safety issues surrounding them," says Friesen. "Parents should let kids know the dangers of sharing too much personal information while online."

Qwest Communications wants to help parents and guardians learn about the potential dangers of social networking sites and how they can help keep their families safer while on the Internet. The Qwest Online Safety Classroom, located at www.IncredibleInternet.com, gives parents and guardians Internet safety tips and resources to understand this new way to communicate as well as valuable identity theft prevention solutions.

According to Friesen, the amount of personal information available on social networking sites makes them the perfect place for identity thieves to quickly gather information for future crimes. Often, one can find the real names, addresses and phone numbers of the online users. This information can then potentially be used in a predatory manner or to steal an identity. For more information about social networking sites and identity theft, visit www.IncredibleInternet.com.

Enter into a safe-computing contract with your child about his or her use of these sites and computer use in general.

Enable computer Internet filtering features if they are available from your Internet service.

Know each of your child's passwords, screen names and all account information.

Put the computer in a family area of the household and do not permit private usage.

Discuss with your child that you are going to monitor what your child and your child's friends are posting regarding your child's identity. Often children and their friends have accounts linked to one another, so it's not just your child's profile and information in which you need to worry.

Know and talk with your child about what other access he or she has to computers and devices like cell phones and Personal Data Assistants, or PDAs.

Report criminal behavior to the appropriate law-enforcement agency, including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's CyberTipline at www.cybertipline.com, or the Internet Fraud Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

Zach Friesen is a teen identity theft victim and spokesperson for Qwest Communications who travels to high schools across the country to talk about identity theft and the dangers of sharing personal identifying information on social networking sites. Learn more about Zach at www.IncredibleInternet.com.